Lt Dennis Williams. They were sited in reserve on the forward slopes of Hill 227. The Platoon, under the direction of the Coy 2IC, Capt Peter Cook, assisted with the evacuation of casualties from Hill 227. Additional riflemen from B Coy were allotted to act as stretcher bearers.
The evacuation of casualties was a major and important task. 3 Pl did a great job. They were under constant mortar fire throughout the operation and sustained five casualties.
A Coy HQ
The HQ took up a position on the top of Hill 227 where it could observe the action and move as necessary to control operations. . The two operator/orderlies were Ron Gordon and Pat Sullivan who were great friends. The Bn Sig was John Forkin. These three plus Capt Peter Abbott, the FOO and the MFC were with me at all times.
A special attachment to Coy HQ was Pte J L (Jock) Burgess with his bagpipes. Jock had served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and was a good and enthusiastic piper. His music was often heard in the A Coy area, to the joy of some like the Company Commander and to the despair of others. I think that all the Diggers were quite proud of him. When I told him to take his pipes he said that he would much rather carry a rifle. When we came under fire he marched up and down playing his pipes the whole time we were on Hill 227. It is remarkable that he was not killed or wounded. Afterwards the troops said that as long as they could hear the pipes they felt that all was well. Jock and his pipes were a great morale builder.
After a short time on Hill 227 Coy HQ had problems.
I was lying in a small hollow with Ron Gordon on my right and Pat Sullivan on his right. Ron had the 88 set radio. A Chinese 60mm mortar landed on the back of Ron Gordon, killing him instantly and destroying his 88 set.(Ron was aged 21 and recently married. I keep in touch with his widow). Pat Sullivan, beside him was wounded. I was lucky. I was not hurt.
I got an 88 set from a stretcher bearer and could talk to the platoons Then John Forkin was wounded and his 31 set was out of action. Next Gunner Bowen, one of Capt Peter Abbott's sigs was wounded. The other Gunner sig then took over his 31 set and provided communications both to Bn HQ and the Guns. Then Capt Peter Abbott, the FOO was wounded and evacuated.
After about 70 minutes on the Hill I reported to the CO that we were running short of ammunition and requested re-supply. I told him that casualties were mounting. He ordered me to withdraw at about 1045 hrs. The withdrawal was orderly and according to plan. All the wounded were evacuated.
During the withdrawal I had almost reached our wire accompanied by the CSM when a 60 mm mortar bomb landed nearby and knocked me over. I had a small piece of shrapnel in my right arm -a minor wound.
Treatment and Evacuation of Casualties
were first attended to by the stretcher bearers attached to each platoon. They did a great job, often under heavy fire. The key man was the A Coy Medical Corporal, Cpl John (Doc) Thomas. He was everywhere with no concern for his own safety. His devoted and skilled work saved many lives.
Casualties walked or were carried back down the Hill and through the gaps in the wire and the minefield to the Aid Post in a large bunker in A Coy lines. More casualties occurred on the slopes and around the minefield gaps. Len Kenna, the A Coy driver was helping to carry down Pte Jock Mulcahy who had lost both legs, but was alive. They got through the wire where Len had parked his jeep ready to drive the casualty to the Aid Post. A mortar shell hit the vehicle, blew out the tyres and killed Jock Mulcahy. Len was unhurt. " It was later determined that Private Jock Mulcahy was killed manning a Bren on top of the hill and was allready dead"
The casualties were cared for by the Medical Officer, Capt Len Nordstrom and his staff and Padre Frank Shine at the Aid Post. Those that required evacuation were taken by jeep ambulances to a helicopter pad 2000 metres back behind a line of hills.
All concerned with the evacuation did a very good job under the direction of Capt Peter Cook, who deserves special praise..
Support
The operation was supported by the tanks of C Sqn 5 DG (5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards), and the whole of the Commonwealth Division Artillery. Adverse weather prevented air strikes on the Tom and Dick features. It was considered that a strike would have silenced much of opposition and reduced our casualties accordingly.
The Mortar Platoon of 1RAR fired 2,300 rounds at enemy positions, while the MG Platoon fired 15,000 rounds.
Enemy Reaction
The enemy did not appreciate the axis of our advance and withdrawal and searched other areas on the forward slopes of Hill 227 with 60mm and 81 mm mortar fire. During the withdrawal they concentrated mortar fire on the minefield gaps forward of the A Coy position.
They did not see our advance up Hill 227 until we crossed the crest when we were engaged with mortar and LMG fire. The enemy on Plug, Harry, Dick and Tom and had no hesitation in exposing themselves. They were probably deterred from mounting a quick counter attack by the volume of fire from our supporting arms and from our covering sections on Hill 227.